Pile casing cutters



Sept. 19, 1961 L. M. BOUGHTON 3,000,248

PILE CASING CUTTERS Filed June 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

L 55 M 5006A 7'0/V, BY

United States 3,000,248 PlLE CASING CUTTERS Lee M. Boughton, Kathan Road, Brewerton, N.Y., as-

signor of one-half to Philip Hillsberg and Maurice H. Sharp, Syracuse, N.Y.

Filed June 26, 1959, Ser. No. 823,135 8 Claims. (Cl. 83191) This invention relates to novel devices for cutting pile casings at excavation level which have been driven into the ground, and more particularly to cutters of this kind which operate inside of pile casings.

The primary object of the invention is to provide more eflicient and efiective cutters of the kind indicated, which are characterized by radially acting cutter plates, which are operated, either mechanically or hydraulically, to cut through the side walls .of pile casings, after the cutters have been lowered into the casings to the desired levels and are controlled from outside of the casings.

Another object of the invention is to provide cutters of the character indicated above, which are compact and uncomplex in construction, being composed of a small number of simple and easily assembled parts.

Other importantobjects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptionand the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a ated cutter device of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof, and a driving hammer interior parts, being indicated in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2; r

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section .taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section similar toFIGURE 3, .but showing the device in compressed operative position inside of a pile casing, the latter being shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, taken through a hydraulically operated device of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan 'view of FIGURE 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and related numerals designate like'and related parts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES l to 5, the device therein shown and generally designated 10,. comprises a vertically elongated'tubular barrel 12, preferably of cylindrical cross section and having an' open upper end 14. The lower end ofthe barrel 12 is suitably fixed, as by welding, to the center of a circular plate or disc '16, which is' substantially larger in diameter than the barrel, but is slightly smaller in diameter than smallest diameter side casing C with which the device is to be' used, and whose peripheral edge 18 acts to engage the casing side wall 20 and center the device in the casinglC. V

Resting slidably upon' the fiat upper surface 22 of the plate 16 around the outside of the barrel12, is a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed cutter plates 24,- here shown as two pairs of'similar, sector-shaped cutter plates, whose convergent sideedges 26 are in touching and in stop relation to each other in the inoperative orretracted positions of the cuter plates, as seen in FIGURE 1; The assembly of the cuter plates 24 forms, in effect, in the retracted positions thereof, an annulus whichis slightly smaller in diameter than the disc 16, so that the radially outwardly facing arcuate and'downwardly bevelled cutting edges 28-of the cutter plates are then at, or slightly inwardly of, the peripheral edge' 18 ofthe 16; so

mechanically 'oper- 2 i as to avoid abrasive contact thereof with a pile casing side wall 20, when the device 10 is lowered into and with? drawn out of a pile casing, such as a cable on a winch on the pile driver, running over a pulley'on the pile driver head. Suitable means (not shown), secured to ears 29. on the upper end of the barrel 12, is employed for positioning the device at the desired height in a pile casing.

Operating mechanism for the cutter plates 24 comprises a movable pressure head 30, sliding within the lower part of the barrel 12 and connected to the plates 24 by downwardly and outwardly declining, radially disposed dual links 32. The pressure head 30 comprises a circular top plate 34, of a diameter to slide verticallyand guidedly in the barrel 12, and a cruciform 36, fixed. to and depending from the top plate and having fourradial, equally spaced vertical webs 38, through each of which extends a headed pivot pin 40. On the pin 40, at opposite sides of the webs 38, are securably pivoted the elevated inward ends of the links 42 of the dual links 32.. Centered upstanding lugs 43 on the cutter plates 24, located outside of the barrel 12, carry headed pivot pins: 44, on which the depressed outer ends of the links 42 are: pivoted, at opposite sides of the lugs 43. The dual links 32 work through vertically elongated slots 46 in the lower part of the side wall 48 of the bar-rel 12.

Pressure head elevating means, whose operation serves to retract the cutter plates 24, after operation thereof, comprises a vertical helical expansion spring 50 which is cireumposed on a column of vertical rods 52 which are individually fixed, at their lower ends, to a block 54 fixed on the upper surface of the disc 16, as seen in FIGURE 3. The spring 50 is compressed between the cruciform 36 and the disc 16, and normally holds the cutter assembly pressure head 30 in its elevated position, wherein the cutter plates 24 are fully retracted. The webs 38 of the cruciform 36 pass between the rods 52, when the pressure head 34 descends.

In order to operate the cutter plates 24 outwardly, so as to cut through the side wall 20 of a pile casing C, in which the device 10 is suspended, a hammer 56, operated from the upper end of the casing C, by suitable means (not shown), is dropped in the barrel 12, so that the hammer strikes and depresses the pressure head 30, against the resistance of the spring 50, as shown in FIG- URE 5. Then the hammer 56 is elevated off the pressure head 30, whereat the spring 50 expands and retracts the cutter plates 24. These operations are repeated, if necessary, until the casing C is cut oif, at the desired level, as at the ground level of an excavation lower than that from which the casing was originally driven.

The hydraulic form of the invention, shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7, and generally designated 10a, has a barrel 12a and a cutter mechanism similar to those of FIG- URES 1 to 5, but devoid of a retracting spring, and a fixed or upper pressure head 58 is provided in the barrel 12a'above the movable or lower pressure head 30a, in order to operatively accommodate an expansible and contractible hydraulic jack 60. The jack 60 performs the functions of the hammer 56 and the spring 50 of FIG- URES 1 to 5.

The fixed pressure head 58 can comprise a hydraulic jack base plate 62, which is held removably in place, at alevel spaced above the lower pressure head 30a, by means of a lower pair of chordally arranged bolts 64, extending across the interior of the barrel 12a and through its side wall 40a, upon which the base plate 62 rests, and an upper pair of chordally arranged bolts 64' similarly arranged in the barrel 12a, and which extend crosswise of the lower bolts 64 and bear upon the upper side ofthe'base plate 62. The body 66 of the jack -60 depends from the base plate 62, and a piston rod 68 extends downwardly from the body 66, and is rigidly and ifixedly securedto the center of the top plate 34a of the lower pressure head 30a, by suitable means, as indicated at 70. A suitable hydraulic hose 72 leads from the jack body 66, out. of the barrel 12a through a hole 74 provided in its side wall 40a and upwardly t9 the upper end of a casing C, in which the device 10A is being used, and is thereat connected to a suitable hydraulic ram (not shown) which can be operated to both expand and contract the jack 6!), for extending the cutter plates and retracting the cutter plates, respectively;

Although there have been shown and described herein preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confinedthereto, and that any change or changes in the structures of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defiined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: i

1. A pile casing cutter comprising 'a vertically elongated tubular barrel having an open'uppe'r end, a disc fixed concentrically on the lower end of the barrel, said disc being larger in diameter than the barrel and having a peripheral edge to bear guidingly against the interior of a pile casing, cutter plates slidably resting upon the upper surface of the disc, said cutter plates having arcuate rad ally outward cutting edges, and operating means for the cutter plates comprising a --vertically movable pressure head confined in the barrel, and individual 'links operatively eonnectedto and extending between the pres sure'headand the cutter plates.

2. A pile casing cutter comprising a vertically elongated tubular barrel having an open upper end, a .disc fixed concentrically on the lower end of the barrel, said disc'being larger in diameter than the barrel and having 'a peripheral edge to bear guidingly against theinterior of a pile casing, cutter plates -slidably-resting upon-the-upper surface of the disc, said cutter plates having arcuate radially outward cutting edges, and operatingmeans for the cutter plates comprising a movable pressure head confined in the barrel for vertical movement, and link means operatively connected to and extending between the pressure head and the cutter plates, said operating means further comprising retracting spring means acting between said disc and said pressure head for yieldably elevating the pressure head --and retracting the cutter platesradialiy inwardly, and hammer means within the barrel above said pressure head, said hammer means being downwardly engageable with the pressure head to depress the pressure head, against the-resistance of said spring means and extend the cutter plates outwardly away from the barrel for cutting the sidewall of a-pile casing.

3. A pile casing cutter comprising a vertically elongated tubular barrel having an open upper end, a disc fixed concentrically on the lower end of thebarrel, said 'disc being largerin diameter than the barrel and having -a peripheral edge to bear guidingly against the interior-of a pile casing, cutter plates slidably/resting uponthe upper surface of the disc, said cutter plates having arcuate radially outward cutting edges, and operating means for the cutter plates comprising a movable pressure head confined in the barrel for verticahmo vement, and =mea-ns operatively connected to and extending between the pressure head and the-cutterplates, said operating means further comprising retracting spring means acting *betweensaid disc and said pressnrehead for-yieldably elevating the pressure head and retracting the cutter plates radially inwardly, and hammer means within the "barrel above said pressure head, said hammer means being downwardly engageable with the pressure head to 'depressthe pressure head, against theiresistance of said 4. A pile casing cutter comprising a vertically elongated tubular barrel having an open upper end, a disc fixed concentrically on the lower end of the barrel, said disc being larger in diameter than the barrel and having a peripheral edge to bear against the interior of a pile casing, cutter plates'slidably resting upon the upper surface of disc', said cutter plates having arcuate ad all inward tia d ssend' means for the cutter plates comprising a movable pressure head confined in barrel for vertical movement, and link means operatively connected to and extending between the pressure head and the cutter plates, said operating means further comprising a fixed pressure head secured in said barrel and "spaced above said movable pressure head, and an extensible and contractible hydraulic jack extending between and fixed to the pressure heads.

5. A pile casing cutter comprising a vertically elongated tubular barrel having an open upper end, a disc fixed concentrically on the lower end of the barrel, said disc being larger in diameter than the barrel and having a peripheral edge to bear guidingly against the interior of a pile casing, cutter plates slidably resting upon the upper surface of the disc, said cutter plates having arcuate radially outward cutting edges, and operating means for the cutter plates comprisingia movable pressure head confined in the :barrel for .vertical movement, and link means operatively connected to and extending between the pressure head and the cutter plates, said pressure head having radial webs and said cutter plates having upstanding lugs, .said zlink means extending between the webs .and :the lugs and :being pivoted at, related ends thereto.

6. A pile casing cutter comprising a vertically elongated tubular barrel having an open upper end, a disc fixed concentrically on' the lower end of the barrel, said disebeinglarger-in diameter than the barrel and having a peripheral edge tobear guidingly against the interior ofna pilecasing, cutter plates slidably resting upon the upper surface of the disc, said cutter plates having arcuate radially outward 'cuttingedges, and operating .means for the cutter plates comprising a movable pressure head confined in the barrel for vertical movement, and link means operativelyconnected to and extending between the pressure head and ,the cutter plates, said pressure head having radial webs and said cutter plates having upstandin-g lugs, said-link meansextendingbetween the webs and the lugs and-beingpivoted at related ends thereto, the side wall of said barrel having vertical guide slots through which the linkumeans work.

'7. A pile casing cuttercomprising a vertically elongatedtubular barrel having an open upper end, ,a disc fixed. concentrically on the;lower end of the barrel, said disc being larger in diameter thant-he barrel and having a peripheral edge-to bear 'guidingly against the interior of a pile .ca sing,tcutterplates slidably resting upon the upper sm'faceofthe disc, said cuttertplates having arcuateradially outwardcuttingedges, and operating means for the cutter plates comprising ,a movable pressure head in th bar el f e t c m m n r a link means ,operatively connected to and extending between the pressnre head ,and the putter plates, said pressure head having radial websyandsaid cutter plates having upstanding lugs, said link-means extending between the webs are an sa d barre h v n vertical guide s thrqu h whic ihqa asa sr sa nk ,msa mjprising of pivoted to opposite sides of ithe lwebs'fand opposite sides of the :cutter plate lugs.

5 radially outward wtting edges, and operating means for the cutter plates comprising a movable pressure head confined in the barrel for vertical movement, and link means operatively connected to and extending between the pressure head and the cutter plates, said operating means further comprising retracting spring means acting between said disc and said pressure head for yieldably elevating the pressure head and retracting the cutter plates radially inwardly, and hammer means within the barrel above said pressure head, said hammer means being downwardly engageable with the pressure head to depress the head, against the resistance of said spring means and extend the cutter plates outwardly away from the barrel for cutting the side wall of a pile casing, said spring means comprising a vertical helical spring com- 5 pressed between the movable pressure head and the disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Chauvin Nov. 30, 1954 

